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Portland sewer rates go up on Friday

Portland sewer rates will increase on July 1, the start of the city's 2011-2012 fiscal year. The average monthly sewer bill for single family residential sewer customers will go up 6%. The city adjusts sewer rates annually on July 1.

The 6% rate increase will make Portland's average monthly residential bill for sewer and stormwater services an estimated $56.52.

58.3%, or $32.96, of the average monthly bill pays for sewage treatment and sewer system construction, maintenance and repair.

39.6%, or $22.37, of the average monthly bill pays for construction, operation and maintenance of stormwater management facilities, including green streets and other green stormwater management infrastructure. Ratepayers who manage stormwater on their property can earn a discount on their on-site stormwater management charges through the Clean River Rewards program.

2.1%, or $1.19, helps fund the city's participation in the ongoing federal superfund investigation in the Willamette River.

2011-2012 Projects

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) program construction is winding down this year and will be complete in December 2011. Environmental Services continues work to expand green stormwater management infrastructure by investing in green streets, ecoroofs, tree planting and natural area acquisition. These are some of the top projects in fiscal year 2011-2012.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Projects - $26.5 million

This includes $10 million to complete connecting combined sewers to the six-mile long East Side Big and to activate it in late summer, which will reduce CSOs to the Willamette River from about 50 events per year to an average of four per winter and one every three summers. Other CSO projects the city will complete this year are the Balch Consolidation Conduit, the Portsmouth Force Main and the Sellwood Wet Weather Pump Station.

Grey to Green Land Acquisition - $5.3 million

The city works with Metro, Trust for Public Land and other partners to acquire natural areas to preserve habitat and protect water quality as part of the Grey to Green Initiative.

East and West Side Sewer Rehabilitation - $5 million

This project will rehabilitate sewer lines by installing cured in place liners and is part of the city's ongoing program to rehabilitate aging sewers throughout Portland.

Burlingame Trunk Sewer - $4.8 million

Environmental Services will start work this summer to expand capacity of the Burlingame Trunk Sewer in SW Multnomah Boulevard between SW 31st Avenue and Interstate-5. The project is part of a larger program to expand sewage pumping and conveyance capacity in the Fanno basin.

East Lents Floodplain Restoration - $4.2 million

This project will restore 24 acres of historic floodplain along Johnson Creek south of SE Foster Road between 106th and 110th avenues to help reduce flood damage, improve fish and wildlife habitat and protect water quality.